Gasteraloe plant named ‘OVROCKS02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Gasteraloe plant named ‘OVROCKS02’ which is characterized by a globular profile with upright foliage spirally arranged in a short, compact rosette, dark green foliage with light green leaf margins, and foliage which is densely covered with prominent light green papillae, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Gasteraloe Guillaumin.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Gasteraloe disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVROCKS02’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2017/1825, filed on Jul. 18, 2017, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVROCKS02’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plantmutation of an unnamed Gasteraloe plant (not patented). In November of2012 the inventor discovered the mutation at a commercial greenhouse inBleiswijk, the Netherlands, growing amongst a crop of the parent plant.The mutation was noted for its unique foliage and growth habit and wassubsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm thedistinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Uponconfirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘OVROCKS02’ was selected forcommercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘OVROCKS02’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inNovember of 2012 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk,the Netherlands. The claimed plant has since been asexually propagatedby way of meristematic tissue culture propagation. Through fivesubsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have provento be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVROCKS02’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘OVROCKS02’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘OVROCKS02’ as a new and distinct Gasteraloe cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVROCKS02’ exhibits a globular profile with upright foliage        which is spirally arranged in a short, compact rosette; and    -   2. ‘OVROCKS02’ exhibits narrowly deltoid foliage with a narrowly        apiculate apex and a soft mucronate tip; and    -   3. ‘OVROCKS02’ exhibits foliage that is dark green with light        green leaf margins, and densely covered with prominent light        green papillae; and    -   4. ‘OVROCKS02’ exhibits papillae on the abaxial leaf surface        which are arranged in distinct axial rows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘OVROCKS02’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 16 months old, shown planted ina 10.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘OVROCKS02’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVROCKS02’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVROCKS02’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in June of 2017describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 16 months old‘OVROCKS02’ plants grown in 10.5 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Gasteraloe whichconsisted of minimal overhead irrigation and fertilizer applications. Nopest or disease control measures were utilized in production. Plantswere grown under shade (approximately 10,000 lux) and no photoperiodictreatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVROCKS02’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVROCKS02’ and a comparison with the parentand closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant form.—Globular; compact.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—11.1 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 15.4 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 90 days at 21 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            Approximately 16 months to produce a marketable plant in a            10.5 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Gasteraloe pests            and diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low            tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Spirally placed in a rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 25 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid succulent leaves.        -   Dimensions.—9.2 cm long, 3.1 cm wide, and 0.9 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Slightly concave to flat.        -   Attitude.—Distal portion of the leaf is lightly curved            upward in an average angle of 10 degrees to the remainder of            the leaf blade.        -   Apex.—Narrow apiculate with a soft mucronate tip.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Dentate; teeth have an average length of 0.1 cm and            are colored yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147D but lighter.            Margins are not undulated or lobed.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately covered            with papillae, presenting as orbicular dots, each            approximately 0.5 mm high and 0.5 mm in diameter; papilla            bearing short, soft spines towards the apex; average length            of the spines is 2.0 mm, at maturity.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with            papillae, presenting as orbicular dots which are loosely            arranged in axial rows across the leaf surface, each            approximately 0.5 mm high and 0.5 mm in diameter; papilla            bearing short, soft spines towards the apex; average length            of the spines is 2.5 mm, at maturity.        -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Slightly to moderately glossy.        -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 139A, and fading to yellow-green towards the base,            nearest to RHS 144B; margined green-white, nearest to RHS            157C; leaf moderately covered with papillae which are            colored green-white, nearest to a combination of RHS 157C            and 157D. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to a            combination of green, RHS 139A, and yellow-green, nearest to            a combination of RHS 147D; fading to yellow-green towards            the base, nearest to a combination of RHS 144A and 144B;            margined green-white, nearest to RHS 157C; leaf densely            covered with papillae which are loosely arranged in axial            rows across the leaf surface and colored green-white,            nearest to RHS 157D. Mature foliage, adaxial surface —            Nearest to in between green, RHS NN137A, and yellow-green,            RHS 147A, but much darker; fading to yellow-green towards            the base, nearest to RHS 148C; margined greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 191A; leaf moderately covered with papillae            which are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191A. Mature            foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between green, RHS            NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A, but darker; fading to            yellow-green towards the base, nearest to a combination of            RHS 147B, 147C and 147D; margined greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 191B; leaf densely covered with papillae which are            loosely arranged in axial rows across the leaf surface and            colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191B. Venation — No            venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS02’ differ from the parent, anunnamed Gasteraloe plant, in the following characteristics described inTable 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVROCKS02’ The parent. Foliage attitude. Foliageis more upright. Foliage has a more relaxed attitude. Foliage apex.Leaves are more point. Leaves are less pointed. General coloration ofLeaves are margined Leaves are not margined leaf margins. light green.light green. Foliage; occurrence of Fewer papilla. More papilla.papillae. Foliage; prominence of Papillae are larger. Papillae aresmaller. spines on the papillae.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS02’ differ from the commercialvariety, Gasteraloe ‘Tiki Tahi’ (U.S. Pat. No. 23,913) in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVROCKS02’ ‘Tiki Tahi’ Foliage aspect. Slightlyconcave to flat. Leaves are concave. Length of foliage. Shorter than‘Tiki Tahi’. Longer than ‘OVROCKS02’. Thickness of foliage. Thinner than‘Tiki Tahi’. Thicker than ‘OVROCKS02’. General coloration Leaves aremargined Leaves are margined of leaf margins. light green. white.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Gasteraloeplant named ‘OVROCKS02’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.